It's okay to fall, just don't fall apart.
-

I was warming up in the practice room along with the others. The vocal unit didn't have any specific choreo in their song so we had decided to keep it simple by adding only a little choreography.

Looking at the others, I must say, the tension was thick. Everyone was dead serious, not because of the practice but because, you know. There's no point of saying it again and again.

I just hoped everything would go well.

Even until now, Hoshi hyung was blaming himself for everything, I don't know why.

In the beginning, we all were blaming ourselves, though. But we understood, we can't control the situation, it's not in our hands.

But Hoshi hyung was the one who was still not over it. We had consoled him a lot but that thing was sitting deep inside his mind. But I trust everyone. We'll be fine.

These days, when we'll practise together, he will heal as well, we all will.

And soon enough, we'll be in caratland, in front of our fans. I'm anxious about that day as well, what will happen when we'll show up after such a long break with incomplete members?

I sighed.

Let's not think about it right now.

I looked at Jun hyung who was warming up casually as well. He looked fine. But I knew, he was hiding loads of pain behind that soothing demeanor. Of course, he knew his responsibilities. He didn't want others to break down while watching him so he had decided to provide everyone, strength.

Dino. I've never seen someone as strong as him. He was the one who cried the most on the day that incident occured but he was also the one who had been supporting everyone the most, since then.

He's the youngest among all of us but he was just too mature. To be honest, I did want to console him. I don't know why, I had this feeling that he was also hiding a lot of emotions.

He didn't want to give anyone a hard time but he should understand, that when we'll find out about his immense pain and that he had been keeping it within himself, we'll feel worse.

It's okay to talk about it. It's okay to cry on each other's shoulders. We couldn't strengthen ourselves without revealing our weak sides.

"Okay, c'mon guys, take your positions." The choreographer's voice echoed.

We tried to cheer up and hype the atmosphere to get a good environment for practicing.

After that, we just practised, without thinking about anything else. We took breaks in the middle, had small talks, discussed a few things and kept working for our performance.

But as soon as we were nearing the end of the day, we heard a loud thud in the practice room.

Dino had fainted.

"DINO!" All of us rushed to him and shook him. We sprinkled water over his face but there was no response.

The medic was summoned and he was quickly shifted to the medical room. I just prayed that it wouldn't be something too serious.

Soon enough, all the members gathered outside the room as we weren't allowed inside for a while.

"What happened?" Seungkwan worriedly asked.

"He-" Hoshi hyung choked on his words.

Jun hyung patted his shoulders, "He fainted abruptly."

"Abruptly?" Mingyu frowned, "There must be a reason."

"No, but he was all fine since morning." Joshua hyung intervened.

"Can I say something." I asked, gaining everyone's attention, "I don't think he's as fine as he shows. We need to talk to him."

"What?" Wonwoo hyung slowly muttered.

"I mean, he doesn't show it but he's very much bothered." I explained, "The easiest escape he found was to keep himself busy. But he occupied himself to such an extent which, in return, affected his health."

"Let's talk when he wakes up." Vernon suggested.

"Right." Jun hyung nodded.

It was when the doctor stepped outside, "Don't worry, he had overworked himself. He's fine now, you all can see him."

"Told you." I looked at them as they nodded.

All of us went inside together and settled ourselves around him.

"I'm sorry." Dino looked down. I knew he would feel bad about this, which he shouldn't. That's exactly what we had to tell him.

"No, why are you saying sorry, Dino?" Joshua hyung caressed his shoulders.

"We know you're keeping things to yourself." Jun hyung added, "Just let it all out, Dino, we're here."

"Don't think that it's wrong to let out your concerns." Seungkwan assured, "We all do that, right? Has anyone ever scolded you for it?"

"Right." Mingyu stated, "If you can't speak your heart out, then what's the point of having twelve hyungs?"

Dino looked away as everyone sighed.

"Only if." Dino muttered, "Twelve."

"Dino." Woozi hyung patted his arm, "It's fine, just say it. We don't want you to keep everything to yourself."

"Exactly, instead of getting worned out when you can't sleep, just talk to us." Seokmin stated.

"What do I say hyung?" Dino sighed, "I miss them. A lot. And there's nothing to talk about it. I just feel my heart sinking down and I can't help it. Can't we bring them back somehow?!!"

Silence fell in the room.

I knew it. Very well. I knew why he was always busy. I knew why he was always working on something.

Because he knew, if he'll sit idle, unusual thoughts wilk croud his mind.

I knew it, because this was exactly the case with me.

I was also keeping myself busy so that I won't get any time to think about anything that would break my already broken heart.

I didn't want to shatter myself anymore because no matter how much time had passed, it hurts and it will always hurt.

"Dino, let's cherish what we've lost and focus on what we have." Vernon muttered, "Or else, someday, we'll lose everything in the race of getting something which is not possible."

Everyone stared at Vernon.

I agree, his words held so much weight. It was the moment when we realised that we were actually ignoring everything we were left with.

All these beautiful things which our hyungs had left behind to treasure, we weren't really taking its responsibility.

If we lose everything someday, won't it be our own fault?

"He's right." Wonwoo hyung nodded, "But before that, promise us, Dino, you won't hide anything from us, anymore."

"True." Hoshi hyung nodded, "If you'll do that, you'll simply hurt us."

"Sorry hyungs, I won't do that." Dino promised.

Finally, at least he sweared to not to suffer alone. At this moment of time, I really didn't want anyone to be lonely. I wanted all of us to be together and support each other.

Finally, we shared a group hug with Dino in the middle.

For the first time in a while, we smiled genuinely, for each other.

"Don't worry y'all." Joshua hyung muttered, "We'll be fine, okay?"

Of course, we will be.

No one can stop us.

Once we've vowed that we'll be strong, we will definitely be, no matter how many problems come in the way.

We will show the world.

That, nothing can break us.

We can stumble but we can never break down.

Never.